Kirchentag 2007, Cologne

Lebendig und kraftig und schärfer (Lively and powerful and sharper - Hebrews 4:12)

A hundred thousand people registered 3000 events, a million visitors, 5000 international participants.  There is no getting away from it, Kirchentag is big.  The whole of the Köln Messe (Exhibition Centre) and several hundred other venues dotted about the city played host to a whole variety of events.  Bible studies, political discussions, services, concerts, and a "marketplace of opportunities" that stretched over four vast halls of the Messe (Exhibition & Conference Centre).

The emblem of this, the 31st Kirchentag is the fish symbol, with a fin added, demonstrating the German Churches' commitment to be sharks rather than minnows.  And the topics discussed, and speakers invited were 'big fish' indeed.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu, WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia, German Chancellor Andrea Merkel (straight from hosting the G8) and Köln's Cardinal Meissener were some of the more famous participants, with Scots involvement led by  Kathy Galloway and Angus Mathieson of the Iona Community.

The international Visitors' welcome meeting was hosted by bilingual Angus Mathieson, wearing full highland dress, and one of several simultaneous Bible studies on Matthew 4:1-11 was led by Kathy Galloway.

Desmond Tutu had 3000 people eating out of his hand, and at least a further thousand in an overflow hall watching a video link of his powerful Bible study on Jeremiah 23:16-32.  The Archbishop likened supporters of Apartheid and Nazism to the false prophets that Jeremiah was warning us about.  He also described God's love as being for ALL humanity, without exception, and in his inimitable style reminded his listeners that God loves Bush and Bin Laden, as well as homosexuals!

If religion can and does fuel conflict, globalization driven by non-religious forces also contributes a great deal to the emergence of new ethno-religious conflicts says World Council of Churches' general secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia.  He affirmed that in such conflicts, Christians are called by the gospel to work towards healing and reconciliation - but he was forthright about the way both diseased religion and other malign ideologies can lead to death and destruction.  He recalled, as one example, how a 19th-century German missionary in present-day Tanzania destroyed the trees of an ancient African shrine near Kilimanjaro. "When they started to cut the trees, an old man stood in their way, asking them, 'What kind of God is this who wants you to destroy the holy places of others?'"   The gospel imperative "to affirm justice and to honour the dignity of the other" compels Christians to work for healing and reconciliation, something that "often requires healing of memories that are deeply hurt".

With so vast a choice of events to attend, I know of several that I would liked to have been able to attend, but that's the point of something as big as Kirchentag - you know you will go away disappointed at what you have not been able to attend - but reinvigorated by what you have been able to fit in.

Opening and closing worship was held on a meadow on the banks of the Rhein, and was attended by a vast crowd, some of whom were several hundred yards from the stage.  Music was provided by a brass band of over 6000 musicians, and the preaching was lively, powerful and sharper, particularly in the closing worship which reminded Germany, and the whole of the developed world, that they had a responsibility to take the lead in achieving a more just world.  The preacher contrasted the range of toothpastes she could choose in her local shops to the empty bellies of millions in other parts of the world.

I met my counterpart in Inter Faith work from Hessen, spoke with one of the staff from the "House of Religions" in Hannover, and led a workshop at the Iona Community's centre which showed that Scotland and Germany's point on the inter faith journey are fairly similar.  Plans have been submitted to build a Central Mosque in a Köln suburb, and many local residents are actively campaigning against it.  NIMBYism is universal!  The local bishop issued a less than helpful statement on Christian-Muslim relationships, and was criticised by many for failing to move the dialogue forward.  Fortunately, others are more willing to build bridges of opportunity instead of road blocks.

Andrew Sarle
June 2007